Method to dynamically bias CPU frequency based on application, temperature and acoustics and system therefor

ABSTRACT

A method for regulating power dissipation at an information handling system may include determining a present value of a first parameter, the first parameter controlling an operating frequency, frequency boost, and a supply voltage at a central processing unit. The method may further include determining a present value of a second parameter, the second parameter defining a user&#39;s preference for optimizing operation of the system for noise level, skin temperature, and performance. The method may further include determining that a program executing at the system is specified at a list of software applications. In response to determining that a skin temperature of the system exceeds a threshold, the first parameter may be adjusted to reduce power dissipation of the CPU by a first amount if the value of the second parameter is equal to a first value. The first parameter may be adjusted by a second amount if the present value of the second parameter is equal to a second value.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure generally relates to information handling systems, andmore particularly relates to dynamically biasing CPU frequency based onapplication, temperature and acoustics.

BACKGROUND

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option is an information handling system. An information handlingsystem generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicatesinformation or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Becausetechnology and information handling needs and requirements may varybetween different applications, information handling systems may alsovary regarding what information is handled, how the information ishandled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, andhow quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, orcommunicated. The variations in information handling systems allow forinformation handling systems to be general or configured for a specificuser or specific use such as financial transaction processing,reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. Inaddition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardwareand software resources that may be configured to process, store, andcommunicate information and may include one or more computer systems,data storage systems, and networking systems.

SUMMARY

A method for regulating power dissipation at an information handlingsystem may include determining a present value of a first parameter, thefirst parameter controlling an operating frequency, frequency boost, anda supply voltage at a central processing unit. The method may furtherinclude determining a present value of a second parameter, the secondparameter defining a user's preference for optimizing operation of thesystem for noise level, skin temperature, and performance. The methodmay further include determining that a program executing at the systemis specified at a list of software applications. In response todetermining that a skin temperature of the system exceeds a threshold,the first parameter may be adjusted to reduce power dissipation of theCPU by a first amount if the value of the second parameter is equal to afirst value. The first parameter may be adjusted by a second amount ifthe present value of the second parameter is equal to a second value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information handling system according toa specific embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an energy management systemaccording to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for adjusting powerconsumption at an information handling system according to a specificembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for adjusting powerconsumption at an information handling system according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following description in combination with the Figures is provided toassist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The followingdiscussion will focus on specific implementations and embodiments of theteachings. This focus is provided to assist in describing the teachings,and should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope orapplicability of the teachings. However, other teachings can certainlybe used in this application. The teachings can also be used in otherapplications, and with several different types of architectures, such asdistributed computing architectures, client/server architectures, ormiddleware server architectures and associated resources.

FIG. 1 illustrates an information handling system 100 including aprocessor 102, a memory 104, a chipset 106, a PCI bus 108, a universalserial bus (USB) controller 110, a USB 112, a keyboard device 114, amouse device controller 116, a high-definition (HD) camera 118, an ATAbus controller 120, an ATA bus 122, a data storage device 124, a compactdisk read only memory (CD ROM) device 126, a video graphics array (VGA)device 130, a display device 132, a network interface controller (NIC)140, a wireless local area network (WLAN) controller 150, one or moreserial buses 160, a non-volatile rand access memory (NVRAM) 170 forstoring a basic input/output system (BIOS) 172, a trusted platformmodule (TPM) 180, and an embedded controller (EC) 190.

NVRAM 170 can be referred to as a serial peripheral interface (SPI)flash storage device, BIOS SPI, and the like. TPM 180 is configured toensure that the boot process starts from a trusted combination ofhardware and software, and continues until the operating system hasfully booted and applications are running. TPM 180 is compliant with aninternational standard for a secure cryptoprocessor, a dedicatedmicrocontroller designed to secure hardware through integratedcryptographic keys. EC 190 can be referred to as a service processor, abaseboard management controller (BMC), and the like. EC 190 includes aprocessor that can operate out-of-band with respect to CPU 102. Forexample, remote management systems can utilize EC 190 to accesscomponents at information handling system independent of an operatingstate of CPU 102. EC 190 may be responsible for performing low levelhardware tasks including thermal management and power managementoperations.

BIOS 172 includes instructions executable by CPU 102 to initialize andtest the hardware components of system 100, and to load a boot loader oran operating system (OS) from a mass storage device. BIOS 172additionally provides an abstraction layer for the hardware, i.e. aconsistent way for application programs and OS to interact with thekeyboard, display, and other input/output devices. When power is firstapplied to information handling system 100, the system begins a sequenceof initialization procedures. During the initialization sequence, alsoreferred to as a boot sequence, components of system 100 are configuredand enabled for operation, and device drivers can be installed. Devicedrivers provide an interface through which other components of thesystem 100 can communicate with a corresponding device. After theinitialization procedure is complete and an operating system, such asWindows, is loaded, computational operation of information handlingsystem can begin. BIOS 172 can be substantially compliant with one ormore revisions of the UEFI specification. The UEFI specificationprovides standard interfaces and interoperability guidelines for devicesthat together make up an information handling system. The UEFIspecification allows for the extension of platform firmware by loadingUEFI driver and UEFI application images. For example, an originalequipment manufacturer can include customized or proprietary images toprovide enhanced control and management of the information handlingsystem 100.

Information handling system 100 can include additional components andadditional buses, not shown for clarity. For example, system 100 caninclude multiple processor cores, audio devices, and the like. While aparticular arrangement of bus technologies and interconnections isillustrated for the purpose of example, one of skill will appreciatethat the techniques disclosed herein are applicable to other systemarchitectures. System 100 can include multiple CPUs and one ore morecomponents can be integrated together. For example, portions of chipset106 can be integrated within CPU 102. In an embodiment, chipset 106 caninclude a platform controller hub (PCH). System 100 can includeadditional buses and bus protocols. Serial bus 160 is representative ofone or more buses and/or bus protocols, such as a serial peripheralinterface (SPI) bus, an inter-integrated circuit protocol (I2C) bus, asystem management bus (SMB), a power management bus (PMBus), and thelike. Additional components of information handling system 100 caninclude one or more storage devices that can store machine-executablecode, one or more communications ports for communicating with externaldevices, and various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard,a mouse, and a video display.

For purpose of this disclosure information handling system 100 caninclude any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operableto compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate,switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, orutilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business,scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example,information handling system 100 can be a personal computer, a laptopcomputer, a smart phone, a tablet device or other consumer electronicdevice, a network server, a network storage device, a switch, a router,or another network communication device, or any other suitable deviceand may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price.Further, information handling system 100 can include processingresources for executing machine-executable code, such as CPU 102, aprogrammable logic array (PLA), an embedded device such as aSystem-on-a-Chip (SoC), or other control logic hardware. Informationhandling system 100 can also include one or more computer-readablemedium for storing machine-executable code, such as software or data.

Power management at an information handling system is an importantactivity. Power dissipation generates heat, which is typically removedfrom the system by cooling fans, passive heat transfer devices, or both.Fans generate noise, and heat can be uncomfortable to a user, especiallyat portable devices such as a laptop computer. The present disclosure isdirected at improving a user's experience while operating an informationhandling system. In particular, specific software applications can beidentified that may inherently utilize substantial hardware resources,but are capable of operating well at a reduced CPU clock frequencywithout significantly impacting a user's experience. Video conferencingsoftware is one example of such an application, but the presenttechniques can be utilized to save power when running other identifiedprograms.

FIG. 2 shows an energy management system 200 according to a specificembodiment of the present disclosure. System 200 is configured to reduceenergy consumption of information handling system 100 based onidentifying specific software applications currently running at system100. System 200 includes CPU 102, a software service 202, an energyperformance preference (EPP) configuration parameter 204, a useroptimization configuration parameter 206, a software application list208, a temperature sensor 210 to monitor the skin temperature ofinformation handling system 100, fan speed information 212, a clock andvoltage controller 214, and a representation of one or more hardwaresubsystems 216 included at system 100. Software service 202 can beimplemented as a runtime driver or by any other computational deviceincluded at system 100, such as EC 190.

EPP configuration parameter 204 can provide a means to regulateoperation of CPU 102 by adjusting a base frequency of a primary clocksignal at CPU 102, a boost (turbo) frequency of the primary clocksignal, the rate at which the clock frequency is varied, a voltage levelprovided to CPU 102, and may include control of how many CPU cores areactivated at a particular time. Accordingly, EPP parameter 204 can beused to configure the computational performance, and thus energyconsumption, of system 100 over a range, such as from a battery-savingconfiguration to a high-performance configuration. The term EPP isassociated with Speed Shift technology supported by processors providedby the Intel Corporation, but can be considered synonymous with theProcessor Power Management (PPM) technology provided by Advanced Microdevices, or with another CPU clock and voltage control technology. Forclarity, EPP configuration parameter 204 is described herein asspecifying a range of CPU computational performance, from lowperformance/low energy to high performance/high energy. In particular, areduction of a value of EPP parameter 204 corresponds to a reduction inthe computational performance and energy consumption of CPU 102.

User optimization configuration parameter 206 provides a means for auser to specify their preferences regarding operation of system 100 thataffect the user's experience. For example, user parameter 206 can offerthe user choices of cool and quiet, balanced, or high performance. Theuser can select the cool and quiet option if low noise and low heat arethe foremost consideration, high performance if computational speed isof the utmost importance, or balanced if they desire an average tradeoffbetween noise/power and performance. User optimization parameter 206 caninclude additional options that relate to a user's preferences, and maybe referred to as a user-selectable thermal table, or simply as acustomer mode.

Software application list 208 is configured to store the identity ofspecific application programs. The power control algorithm disclosedherein is only activated if system 100 is presently executing one ormore software applications specified at list 208. For the purpose ofexample, the disclosed techniques are described below with reference toa video conference application. Skin temperature sensor 210 can includea thermal sensor proximate to an external surface of informationhandling system 100, such as the back surface of a laptop computer. Fanspeed 212 correlates with acoustic noise generated by system 100.Subsystems 216 include components of information handling system 100that can be configured to operate at reduced power levels. Examples ofsubsystem 216 can include a graphics processing unit (GPU) such as VGA130, memory 104, data storage devices such as hard drive 124, displaydevice 132, a charging system, and the like.

Software service 202 is configured to dynamically adjust the value ofEPP parameter 204 based on the present value of EPP 204, the presentvalue of user optimization parameter 206, and information provided byone or both of skin temperature sensor 210 and fan speed information212, but only if system 100 is currently executing an applicationincluded at software application list 208. If system 100 is notexecuting an application program identified at list 208, operation ofsystem 100 is based only on the current values of EPP parameter 204 anduser optimization parameter 206. By dynamically adjusting the value ofEPP parameter 204, software service 202 can regulate power consumptionof CPU 102 by controlling clock/voltage controller 214. Software service202 is also configured to reduce power consumption at one or more ofsubsystems 216 according to a present state of a power reductionalgorithm implemented by service 202. The power reduction algorithm isdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 shows a method 300 for adjusting power consumption at informationhandling system 100 according to a specific embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In particular, method 300 illustrates how software service202 can adjust EPP configuration parameter 204 by an amount that isdependent on the current state of user configuration parameter 206.Method 300 begins at decision block 301 where it is determined whether asoftware application executing at information handling system 100 isidentified at software application list 208. If no application presentlyrunning at system 100 is found at list 208, method 300 returns todecision block 301. If a software application running at system 100 isidentified on list 208, the method proceeds to decision block 302 whereit is determined whether a skin temperature of system 100 exceeds apredetermined maximum temperature. The predetermined maximum temperaturecan be a fixed value, or the value may vary based on the state of one ormore operating modes available at system 100. Furthermore, while thepresent example illustrates operation of method 300 with respect to skintemperature, one of skill will appreciate that an acoustic noise limitor another system parameter can be evaluated instead of, or in additionto, the skin temperature.

If the skin temperature does not exceed the predetermined maximumtemperature, method 300 can return to decision block 301, or optionallyto block 314 as described below. If the skin temperature does exceed thethreshold, method 300 advances to block 303 where the present value ofEPP configuration parameter 204 and the present value of useroptimization configuration parameter 206 are determined. Based on thevalue of user parameter 206, method 300 proceeds to one of three blocks.If user optimization configuration parameter 206 is set to ‘cool/quiet’mode, method 304 proceeds from decision block 304 to decision block 305.If user parameter 206 is set to ‘optimized’ mode, method 300 proceedsfrom decision block 308 to decision block 309. If user parameter 206 isset to ‘performance’ mode, method 300 proceeds from block 312 to block313. Based on the value of user parameter 206, software system 202 canadjust EPP 204 and implement other power reduction schemes in differentways that are best suited for the current user's optimizationconfiguration mode preference.

If user optimization parameter 206 is set to cool/quiet, decision block305 determines whether method 300 has already reduced the value of EPP204 in a previous iteration through block 305. If EPP parameter 204 hasnot been previously reduced, method 300 proceeds to block 306 where thevalue of EPP parameter 204 is reduced to a predetermined secondary tablevalue. In addition, software service 202 can take addition actions toreduce power dissipation at system 100, such as reducing memory accessbandwidth, reducing brightness of display 132, and the like. If EPPparameter 204 has been previously reduced in a previous iteration ofmethod 300, the method proceeds to block 307 where software system 202can evaluate which of subsystems 216 can be manipulated to best reducepower dissipated by that subsystem, thereby reducing total powerconsumption and heating at information handling system 100. For example,method 300 can reduce power consumption at system 100 by 10% by reducingpower consumption at one or more of subsystems 216.

If user optimization parameter 206 is set to optimized, decision block309 determines whether method 300 has already reduced the value of EPP204 in a previous iteration through block 309. If EPP parameter 204 hasnot been previously reduced, method 300 proceeds to block 310 where thevalue of EPP parameter 204 is reduced to a third table value. As above,software service 202 can take addition actions to reduce powerdissipation at system 100, such as reducing memory access bandwidth,reducing brightness of display 132, and the like. If EPP parameter 204has been previously reduced, method 300 proceeds to block 311 wheresoftware system 202 can reduce power dissipated of one or more selectedsubsystem. For example, method 300 can reduce power consumption atsystem 100 by 7% by reducing power consumption at one or more ofsubsystems 216.

If user optimization parameter 206 is set to performance, method 300proceeds from block 312 to block 313 where software system 202 canreduce power dissipated of one or more selected subsystem of subsystems216. For example, method 300 can reduce power consumption at system 100by 5% by reducing power consumption at one or more of subsystems 216.

Depending on how the user has configured user optimization parameter206, method 300 can take remedial action that is most appropriate tomaintain the user's optimization preference. Having passed through oneof blocks 306, 307, 310, 311, and 313, method 300 returns to decisionblock 301, where the method 300 can repeat after a predetermined timehas elapsed. For example, a subsequent iteration of method 300 can bedelayed to give information handling system time for thermal equilibriumto be reached, such as every two minutes. Furthermore, method 300 canimplement a means to increase power/performance of system 100 if theskin temperature or noise levels fall below a second predetermined levelthat is less than the maximum value utilized at decision block 302. Forexample, if the skin temperature or the acoustic level falls below thesecond predetermined value, the previous values of EPP parameter 204 canbe incrementally restored and power reductions applied to subsystems 216can be incrementally disabled, as shown at block 314. Method 300 cancontinue to monitor skin temperature sensor 210 and fan speed 212,taking remedial action if corresponding thresholds are again exceeded.In an embodiment, a second application list can be defined, the secondlist identifying application programs that, if also running, disable thepower reduction algorithm even if an application identified atapplication list 208 is also running.

FIG. 4 shows a method 400 for adjusting power consumption at informationhandling system 100 according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure. At block 401, a present value of a first configurationparameter is determined, the first configuration parameter controllingan operating frequency, frequency boost, and a supply voltage at acentral processing unit. For example, software service 202 can determinethe present value of EPP configuration parameter 204. At block 402, apresent value of a second configuration parameter can be determined, thesecond configuration parameter defining a user's preference foroptimizing operation of the information handling system for noise level,skin temperature, and performance. For example, software service 202 candetermine the present value of user optimization configuration parameter206.

Method 400 continues at block 403 where software service 202 candetermine that a software application executing at information handlingsystem is specified at a predetermined list of software applications.For example, software service 202 can evaluate whether a program runningat system 100 is identified at software application list 208. Atdecision block 404, software service 202 can determine whether anoperating threshold, such as skin temperature or acoustic noise has beenexceeded. If the threshold has been exceeded, method 400 diverges basedon a value of the second configuration parameter. For example, if thevalue of user optimization parameter 206 is set to one optimizationmode, method 400 completes at block 405 where the first configurationparameter (EPP 204) can be adjusted to reduce power dissipation of theCPU by a first amount. If the value of user optimization parameter 206is set to another optimization mode, method 400 completes at block 406where the EPP 204 can be adjusted to reduce power dissipation of the CPUby a second amount.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the information handling system 100 caninclude a set of instructions that can be executed to cause theinformation handling system to perform any one or more of the methods orcomputer based functions disclosed herein. The information handlingsystem 100 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected toother computer systems or peripheral devices, such as by a network.

In a networked deployment, the information handling system 100 mayoperate in the capacity of a server or as a client user computer in aserver-client user network environment, or as a peer computer system ina peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The informationhandling system 100 can also be implemented as or incorporated intovarious devices, such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, aset-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device,a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, acommunications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, acontrol system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, apager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router,switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system 100 canbe implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single information handling system100 is illustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include anycollection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointlyexecute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or morecomputer functions.

The information handling system 100 can include a disk drive unit andmay include a computer-readable medium, not shown in FIG. 1, in whichone or more sets of instructions, such as software, can be embedded.Further, the instructions may embody one or more of the methods or logicas described herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions mayreside completely, or at least partially, within system memory 104 oranother memory included at system 100, and/or within the processor 102during execution by the information handling system 100. The systemmemory 104 and the processor 102 also may include computer-readablemedia. A network interface device (not shown at FIG. 1) can provideconnectivity to a network, such as a wide area network (WAN), a localarea network (LAN), or other network.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations such asapplication specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can be constructed to implement one or more ofthe methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions or receives and executes instructions responsiveto a propagated signal; so that a device connected to a network cancommunicate voice, video or data over the network. Further, theinstructions may be transmitted or received over the network via thenetwork interface device.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories.

Further, the computer-readable medium can be a random access memory orother volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readablemedium can include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a diskor tapes or other storage device to store information received viacarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives may be considered a distributionmedium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of acomputer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalentsand successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailabove, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of theembodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theembodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the followingclaims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for regulating power dissipation at aninformation handling system, the method comprising: determining apresent value of a first configuration parameter, the firstconfiguration parameter controlling an operating frequency, frequencyboost, and a supply voltage at a central processing unit; determining apresent value of a second configuration parameter, the secondconfiguration parameter defining a user's preference for optimizingoperation of the information handling system for noise level, skintemperature, and performance; determining that a software applicationexecuting at the information handling system is specified at apredetermined list of software applications; and in response todetermining that a skin temperature of the information handling systemexceeds a first predetermined value: adjusting the first configurationparameter to reduce power dissipation of the CPU by a first amount ifthe present value of the second configuration parameter is equal to afirst value; and adjusting the first configuration parameter to reducepower dissipation of the CPU by a second amount if the present value ofthe second configuration parameter is equal to a second value, thesecond amount different than the first amount.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: reducing power dissipation at a first subsystem atthe information handling system in response to determining that theadjusting of the first configuration parameter failed to reduce the skintemperature to a value below the first predetermined value.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, further comprising reducing power dissipation at asecond subsystem at the information handling system in response todetermining that reduced power dissipation at the first subsystem wasinsufficient to reduce the skin temperature to a value below the firstpredetermined value.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising notadjusting the first configuration parameter to reduce power dissipationof the CPU in response to determining that the software application isnot specified at the predetermined list of software applications.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: in response to determining thatthe skin temperature of the information handling system does not exceeda second predetermined value, adjusting the first configurationparameter to increase power dissipation of the CPU, the secondpredetermined value less than the first predetermined value.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: in response to determining thatthe skin temperature of the information handling system exceeds thefirst predetermined value, adjusting the first configuration parameterto reduce power dissipation of the CPU by a third amount if the presentvalue of the second configuration parameter is equal to a third value,the third amount different than the first and second amount.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: in response to determining that anoise level of the information handling system exceeds a secondpredetermined value: adjusting the first configuration parameter toreduce power dissipation of the CPU by a third amount if the presentvalue of the second configuration parameter is equal to the first value;and adjusting the first configuration parameter to reduce powerdissipation of the CPU by a fourth amount if the present value of thesecond configuration parameter is equal to the second value, the fourthamount different than the third amount.
 8. The method of claim 7,further comprising: reducing power dissipation at a first subsystem atthe information handling system in response to determining that theadjusting of the first configuration parameter failed to reduce thenoise level to a value below the second predetermined value.
 9. A methodfor regulating power dissipation at an information handling system, themethod comprising: determining a present value of a first configurationparameter, the first configuration parameter controlling an operatingfrequency, frequency boost, and a supply voltage at a central processingunit; determining a present value of a second configuration parameter,the second configuration parameter defining a user's preference foroptimizing operation of the information handling system for noise level,skin temperature, and performance; determining that a softwareapplication executing at the information handling system is specified ata predetermined list of software applications; and in response todetermining that a noise level of the information handling systemexceeds a first predetermined value: adjusting the first configurationparameter to reduce power dissipation of the CPU by a first amount ifthe present value of the second configuration parameter is equal to afirst value; and adjusting the first configuration parameter to reducepower dissipation of the CPU by a second amount if the present value ofthe second configuration parameter is equal to a second value, thesecond amount different than the first amount.
 10. The method of claim9, further comprising: reducing power dissipation at a first subsystemat the information handling system in response to determining that theadjusting of the first configuration parameter failed to reduce thenoise level to a value below the first predetermined value.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising reducing power dissipation at asecond subsystem at the information handling system in response todetermining that reduced power dissipation at the first subsystem wasinsufficient to reduce the noise level to a value below the firstpredetermined value.
 12. The method of claim 9, further comprising notadjusting the first configuration parameter to reduce power dissipationof the CPU in response to determining that the software application isnot specified at the predetermined list of software applications. 13.The method of claim 9, further comprising: in response to determiningthat the noise level of the information handling system does not exceeda second predetermined value, adjusting the first configurationparameter to increase power dissipation of the CPU, the secondpredetermined value less than the first predetermined value.
 14. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising: in response to determining that anoise level of the information handling system exceeds the firstpredetermined value, adjusting the first configuration parameter toreduce power dissipation of the CPU by a third amount if the presentvalue of the second configuration parameter is equal to a third value,the third amount different than the first and second amount.
 15. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising: in response to determining that askin temperature of the information handling system exceeds a secondpredetermined value: adjusting the first configuration parameter toreduce power dissipation of the CPU by a third amount if the presentvalue of the second configuration parameter is equal to the first value;and adjusting the first configuration parameter to reduce powerdissipation of the CPU by a fourth amount if the present value of thesecond configuration parameter is equal to the second value, the fourthamount different than the third amount.
 16. An information handlingsystem comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); a firstconfiguration parameter to control an operating frequency, frequencyboost, and a supply voltage at the CPU; a second configurationparameter, the second configuration parameter defining a user'spreference for optimizing operation of the information handling systemfor noise level, skin temperature, and performance; and a softwareprocess to: determine a value of the first configuration parameter;determine a value of the second configuration parameter; determine thata software application executing at the information handling system isspecified at a predetermined list of software applications; in responseto determining that a skin temperature of the information handlingsystem exceeds a first predetermined value or that a noise level of theinformation handling system exceeds a second predetermined value: adjustthe first configuration parameter to reduce power dissipation of the CPUby a first amount if the present value of the second configurationparameter is equal to a first value; and adjust the first configurationparameter to reduce power dissipation of the CPU by a second amount ifthe present value of the second configuration parameter is equal to asecond value, the second amount different than the first amount.
 17. Theinformation handling system of claim 16, further comprising: a firstsubsystem, wherein the software process is further to reduce powerdissipation at the first subsystem in response to determining that theadjusting of the first configuration parameter failed to reduce the skintemperature to a value below the first predetermined value or failed toreduce the noise level to a value below the second predetermined value.18. The information handling system of claim 17, further comprising: asecond subsystem, wherein the software process is further to reducepower dissipation at the second subsystem at the information handlingsystem in response to determining that reduced power dissipation at thefirst subsystem failed to reduce the skin temperature to a value belowthe first predetermined value or failed to reduce the noise level to avalue below the second predetermined value.
 19. The information handlingsystem of claim 16, wherein the software process is further to notadjust the first configuration parameter to reduce power dissipation ofthe CPU in response to determining that the software application is notspecified at the predetermined list of software applications.
 20. Theinformation handling system of claim 16, wherein the software process isfurther to adjust the first configuration parameter to increase powerdissipation of the CPU in response to determining that the skintemperature of the information handling system does not exceed a thirdpredetermined value and in response to determining that the noise leveldoes not exceed a fourth predetermined value, the third predeterminedvalue less than the first predetermined value and the fourthpredetermined value less than the second predetermined value.